Lesson Plan

THE U.S. CONSTITUTION POWER GRAB GAME

Appropriate for grades 9-12.

State Standard: Government and Civics 5.3.9.B

OVERVIEW: The highest law of the land in the United States is the

Constitution. This is the basic principle we want young people to

understand and support in our social studies classes. Associated

with the knowledge of the Constitution are several fundamental

ideas: checks and balances, separation of powers, Bill of Rights

and amendments.

PURPOSE: To encourage students to comprehend these points of

emphasis and relate them to the study of the three branches of our

federal government. Several activities are described. The

culminating activity is the "Power Grab Game" given before the

final test on the Constitution Unit.

OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to:

1. Identify the three branches of American government.

2. Describe the function of each branch of government.

3. Explain how the "checks and balances" system functions to

protect the individual citizen from illegal power hungary

politicians.

4. Describe how each branch of government is "separate" in its

powers to the other branches of government.

5. Explain how the amendments to the Constitution function

today.

ACTIVITIES: The following ideas will prepare students for their

explanation of the Constitution:

The Power Game -- Checks and Balances in the Constitution:

1. Divide the class into three groups: Executive, Legislative

and Judicial branches of government. Each student should

have a copy of the Constitution with them.

2. In each round the teacher will give each branch of government

an opportunity for an unconstitutional "Power Grab". The

remaining two groups have two minutes to find proof from the

Constitution (amendments included) by Article, section and

clause, why the power grab is unconstitutional.

3. When a person thinks he finds the appropriate check he yells

"check". He must be prepared to respond with the answer

immediately. If wrong, others may try to block the grab for

power with the two minutes, alternating between branches

until the two minutes are gone or the answer is correct.

4. When checked correctly, the branch received 10 points. If no

one gets the correct answer, the branch grabbing power gets 5

points. No penalty for wrong answers.

5. A round is a question for each branch.

Power Grabs:

1. President - A serious economic crisis takes place in the U.S.

The President decides to run for a third term. (Amendment

22)

Congress - Congress passes a law taking 10% on lumber being

exported. (Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 5)

Courts - The Court rules that the government may not issue

patents because of the need for technological advance.

(Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 8)

2. President - The President declares war on China.

(Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 11)

Congress - Congress passes a low that people from Washington

may not drive cars in Oregon because of pollution. (Article

IV, Section 2, Paragraph 1)

Courts - Since Washington D.C. is not in any state, residents

there may not vote in national elections. (Amendment 23)

3. President - The President appoints Dan Evans to Senator

Adams' seat when he resigns due to a personal scandal.

(Article I, Section 3, Paragraph 2)

Congress - Congress impeaches Bush because he pardons North.

The Democratic Congress uses their anger to get him. (Article

II, Section 4)

Courts - The Court rules that because of our large national

debt, the U.S. can no longer borrow money. (Article I,

Section 8, Paragraph 2)

4. President - To fight terrorism, anyone found guilty of

hijacking will be punished by having their fingernails ripped

off. (Amendment 8)

Congress - Congress decides that beards are illegal; anyone

who wore one in the last year